“Our thoughts go out to the families involved at this very difficult time.”

Investigations are also continuing into the fatal car accident near Goolgowi early on Friday morning that killed three men, who have been identified as Afghani and Pakistani asylum seekers, and left others critically injured.

Local Afghani leader Mohammad Ghaffari said his community was reeling from the loss.

He is currently in negotiations to bring the men’s wives over from Pakistan and Afghanistan, so they can attend the funerals.

“It is too much,” Mr Ghaffari said.

“But we cannot help it, we can just try to bring their families over for the funerals.”

Griffith mayor John Dal Broi has offered his most sincere sympathies to all the families affected so close to Christmas.

“It is really very sad and as a community we can offer condolences to the families involved,” Councillor Dal Broi said.

“Everyone in the community will be thinking about them and if we can help in any way, we should offer assistance in any way we can.”